Coldplay's Viva La Vida

By Josh TyrangielSunday, May 18, 2008

Richard Perry / The New York Times / Redux

Available June 17

If you think an album named for a Frida Kahlo painting that features a Delacroix on its cover gives off a whiff of artistic pretension, get a load of this: Coldplay's fourth record will also be produced by Brian Eno. If this is their Radiohead play, well, good for them. Coldplay's previous record, X&Y, was so edgeless it was crib safe. This one, recorded in, and inspired by, Spanish churches and paintings and other artsy atmospheric stuff, at least promises some mystery mixed in with the usual soaring guitars and wet-kiss choruses.